Srinagar – Leh Highway to be Opened by 25 April 2012
A much delighted news to all the travel and adventure freaks, as BRO expects to open Srinagar – Leh Highway by 25th April 2012. This is indeed an achievement and I am wondering on my plans to come by road on my upcoming trip to Ladakh next week 
… I hope the weather remains clear for the next few weeks and all the people of Kargil and Ladakh re-connect to the world early this year 
… Kudos for the effort put in by BRO, thanks to them.
Read More Below:
Sonamarg/Srinagar,April 14 (Scoop News) – Minister for Transport & CA&PD, Mr. Qamar Ali Akhoon on Saturday said that Srinagar-Kargil-Leh National Highway would be ready for vehicular traffic from April 25, 2012.
During his visit at Captain Moad, the Minister disclosed this while reviving the measures taken by BEACON authority in connection with lifting of snow as well as removing snow avalanches and other hurdles on the said road. On the occasion, the Minister asked the Beacon authorities to accelerate the restoration work on the Srinagar-Kargil-Leh National Highway to ensure that the vital road would be thrown open for the vehicles at the earliest. The lone link between Leh and rest of the country was closed in December last year due to heavy snowfall at Zojilla pass and adjacent areas.
The Minister stressed upon the Beacon to press more men and machinery into service for removing all the bottlenecks on the road. He also asked the administration and security agencies to ensure the safe passage of the people who are travelling on foot including vegetables and medicines carrying ponies.Earlier, the Engineer of the Beacon, Mr. A.P. Singh informed the Minister that presently 6 Bulldozers and near about 30 labourers have been pressed into service for removing the snow slides and other hurdles on the road.
Meanwhile, Mr. Akhoon asked the regulating agencies to repeat the normal schedule for the movement of up down convoy of Army vehicles. He further said that the Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways has already approved the construction of 13 kilometres long Zojilla Tunnel in Kashmir Valley to provide all season link to the twin districts of Leh and Kargil and adding that work on this project will be started this year. However, he said that the foundation stone of the first phase 6 kilometres tunnel from Gagangeer to Sonamarg would be laid according to the schedule in the month of August this year.
The Minister said that by construction of Zojilla tunnel, a long pending demand of the people of the 2 districts of Kargil and Leh would be fulfilled.
Later on at a meeting of district officers, he issued directions to the district officers to restore immediately the electricity, drinking water, medical facilities in Sonamarg and also asked concerned officers for lifting the snow from the parks and main market of the Sonamarg so that bulk number of visiting tourists may not face any more difficulty.The Minister was accompanied by Additional Deputy Commissioner, Ganderbal and various district officers.
External Source: Srinagar-Kargil-Leh Highway be ready for traffic from April 25
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12 Comments
Hi Dheeraj,
We around 5 people are planning to go to Kashmir in November 2nd week. Can you give me the best possible itineary.
Please advise.
Thanks,
-Rohit
Hello Rohit,
Sorry for the delayed reply. The one common itinerary for Kashmir is as follows covering most basic tourist places of Kashmir:
Day 1 | Srinagar
– Take rest for the day. May be enjoy Shikara ride or stay in house boat itself.
Day 2 | Srinagar – Pahalgam
Day 3 | Pahalgam
– Just relax for the day and spend sometime around
– May be a visit to Chandanwari
Day 4 | Pahalgam – Gulmarg
– Explore ruins of Awantipura
– Enjoy vistas en-route
Day 5 | Gulmarg – Sonamarg
– Enjoy vistas enroute, especially between Tangmarg to Gulmarg
– Mmay be check out Golf course, if you feel like
Day 6 | Sonamarg
Day 7 | Sonamarg – Srinagar
Day 8 | Back Home
I hope this helps. Please let me know in case you have any queries or doubts.
Regards
Dheeraj
Thanks a lot Dheeraj!
I understand the delayed response owing to so many queries you faced everyday.
Now, is it okay to visit Kashmir after 10th November. Moreover,we need one driver man who knows these places very well and make our trip a worth.
And can you let me know good accommodation options there.
On average how much it will cost to us we are 5 members.
I am awaiting your response.
Thanks,
-Rohit
Dear Dheeraj, am planning to leave on the 8/08/2012 for leh via srinagar. There has been news on your site and on the web that the manali-leh route is closed. Your website also says that the other routes into leh are closed. Can you give me a status update of the routes into leh? thanks in advance. Anand
Hi Anand,
Both Manali – Leh Highway and Srinagar – Leh Highway have been cleared of landslides and are now OPEN. But, please keep in mind this is monsoon time now and these things will happen every now and then, so go prepared. I will email you my contact.
Regards
Dheeraj
Is it safe to go by road (my own car) Leh via Srinagar, with my famiy?
Hi Joshi,
It is safe to Travel considering you have decent experience of driving in hills. For hatchback/sedan taking on Manali – Leh Highway and Ladakh, I will say:
You will indeed face few tough challenges on the route. The hatchback/sedan will increase the level of every challenge even further, sedan is the worst candidate. My suggestion will be to go via Srinagar route as it will help you feel comfortable with the driving, provide more acclimatization and then once you have done the local Leh-Ladakh, then come back via Manali side. Secondly, since you are in hatch/sedan, then you need to drive with extra care as well. There will be some sections on the Manali – Leh highway in which you might need to sacrifice some scratches on the underbelly. Just make sure you do not bump the engine sump (know it before where it is placed in your car). You need to protect it all around the trip. Thirdly, whenever in doubt do not rush into the section rather park aside and feel the section with your foot, see how other vehicles are crossing it and make a planned route in your mind to cross that section. At the very least do carry Mseal, quick fix, funnel, jerry cans and towing rope with you all the time.
Also, I will strongly suggest that you go through and read my series on Ladakh Self Drive tips at the links below:
7 Useful Tips for a Self Drive to Leh – Ladakh, Routes and Road Conditions In Leh – Ladakh | Ladakh Self Drive Tips, Fuel Availability In Leh – Ladakh | Ladakh Self Drive Tips
I hope this helps. Let me know incase you need more info. or have any queries or doubts.
Regards
Dheeraj Sharma
HI, I want to know if there is a way that go straight from Leh to Srinagar? For what i m seeing the map up to now, we need to go from Leh..then down to Manali…(close to Manali), and then go up to Srinagar again. This road is about 800km, and it is too long if we can go direct.
Hello,
Not sure, which map are you looking at but there is a direct route to Srinagar from Leh and is called NH – 1D. It goes like Leh – Kargil – Drass – Srinagar. You can find all the details regarding planning the journey on Srinagar – Leh Highway at the link here.
I hope this helps. Let me know incase you need more info. or have any queries or doubts.
Regards
Dheeraj Sharma
Thanks. I was looking to google map road. The road you mentioned, really helps! It shortened the time + money
. I promise to comeback with more questions 
After five months, Srinagar-Leh highway reopens
http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news/after-…
[...] Srinagar – Leh Highway Status | Update Date: 15th April, 2012 A much delighted news to all the travel and adventure freaks, as BRO expects to open Srinagar – Leh Highway by 25th April 2012. This is indeed an achievement… Kudos for the effort put in by BRO, thanks to them. Read more at the link here: Srinagar – Leh Highway to be Opened by 25 April 2012. [...]